If that's a hobby for them then they are just gardeners. If they are gardeners, then I sincerely hope that they get zero consideration from those who are supposed to help farmers.

Gardeners tend to gardens, so even for pro vs hobby that's not the distinction you want to make.

But even the intention behind the distinction is wrong, as not wanting to be a huge agricultural business doesn't mean you're not professional.

In fact, quality-wise the smaller shops can be much more professional. So, no, actually, those are farmers, of the kind with the smaller lots, that have always been there and fed humanity for millennia.

The other are just big business conglomerates who don't give a fuck about farming and just happened to be in the agriculture business -- and will do anything to drop their margins and sell crap.

I hope that they get zero consideration from those who are supposed to help farmers, and hopefully are driven out of farming.

What makes it a business vs. hobby is inability to plan for the not great years. Business is farming. Hobby is gardening. Even if it is on a large scale.

The ability to plan for the "not great years" and to succeed or fail in that plan is totally orthogonal.

Big businesses have failed to do so, and small family shops have survived for centuries...

So, taking a bit hit, or even dying, on some "not great years", is not a criterion for business vs hobby at all.